Patrons and friends of the Aurora Picture Show were thrilled to meet honoree-artist Laurie Simmons and her husband, painter Carroll Dunham, at the organization's annual award dinner. And surprise, there also was a new executive director to meet: Sarah Stauder, who joined Aurora just three days prior. (She'll have an official welcome party on Oct. 30.)

Rain kept the arty crowd inside Aurora's new space on Bartlett (there's a cool garden out back), but that didn't dampen spirits.

Simmons loved the tiny hand-carved basswood award made for her by artist Gabriel Martinez, there with partner and video artist Kelly Sears It was a reference to Simmons' work with tiny furniture and her daughter Lena Dunham's breakout film.

"I wish you could all see this, but it's quite impossible," said Simmons. "I don't know why the Golden Globes and Academy Awards haven't figured this out."

Both she and her husband got their start at spaces similar to Aurora Picture Show, she noted, adding, "It's so important to have spaces that aren't museums or commercial galleries."